Nombres (NAB) 32

Conquest and Division of Transjordan

32 1 Now the Reubenites and Gadites had a very large number of livestock. Noticing that the land of Jazer and of Gilead was grazing country, 2 they came to Moses and the priest Eleazar and to the princes of the community and said,3 "The region of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Baal-meon, 4 which the LORD has laid low before the community of Israel, is grazing country. Now, since your servants have livestock,"5 they continued, "if we find favor with you, let this land be given to your servants as their property. Do not make us cross the Jordan."6 But Moses answered the Gadites and Reubenites: "Are your kinsmen, then, to engage in war, while you remain here?7 Why do you wish to discourage the Israelites from crossing to the land the LORD has given them?8 That is just what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to reconnoiter the land.9 They went up to the Wadi Eshcol and reconnoitered the land, then so discouraged the Israelites that they would not enter the land the LORD had given them.10 At that time the wrath of the LORD flared up, and he swore,11 'Because they have not followed me unreservedly, none of these men of twenty years or more who have come up from Egypt shall ever see this country I promised under oath to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,12 except the Kenizzite Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun, who have followed the LORD unreservedly.' 13 So in his anger with the Israelites the LORD made them wander in the desert forty years, until the whole generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD had died out.14 And now here you are, a brood of sinners, rising up in your fathers' place to add still more to the LORD'S blazing wrath against the Israelites.15 If you turn away from following him, he will make them stay still longer in the desert, and so you will bring about the ruin of this whole nation."16 But they were insistent with him: "We wish only to build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and towns for our families;17 but we ourselves will march as troops in the van of the Israelites, until we have led them to their destination. Meanwhile our families can remain here in the fortified towns, safe from attack by the natives.18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the Israelites has taken possession of his heritage,19 and will not claim any heritage with them once we cross the Jordan, so long as we receive a heritage for ourselves on this eastern side of the Jordan."20 Moses said to them in reply: "If you keep your word to march as troops in the LORD'S vanguard 21 and to cross the Jordan in full force before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out of his way22 and the land is subdued before him, then you may return here, quit of every obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this region shall be your possession before the LORD.23 But if you do not do this, you will sin against the LORD, and you can be sure that you will not escape the consequences of your sin.24 Build the towns, then, for your families, and the folds for your flocks, but also fulfill your express promise."25 The Gadites and Reubenites answered Moses, "Your servants will do as you command, my lord.26 While our wives and children, our herds and other livestock remain in the towns of Gilead,27 all your servants will go across as armed troops to battle before the LORD, just as your lordship says."28 Moses, therefore, gave this order in their regard to the priest Eleazar, to Joshua, son of Nun, and to the heads of the ancestral tribes of the Israelites:29 "If all the Gadites and Reubenites cross the Jordan with you as combat troops before the LORD, you shall give them Gilead as their property when the land has been subdued before you.30 But if they will not go across with you as combat troops before the LORD, you shall bring their wives and children and livestock across before you into Canaan, and they shall have their property with you in the land of Canaan."31 To this the Gadites and Reubenites replied, "We will do what the LORD has commanded us, your servants.32 We ourselves will go across into the land of Canaan as troops before the LORD, but we will retain our hereditary property on this side of the Jordan."33 So Moses gave them (the Gadites and Reubenites, as well as half the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan,) the land with its towns and the districts that surrounded them. 34 The Gadites rebuilt the fortified towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,36 Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran, and they built sheepfolds.37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,38 Nebo, Baal-meon (names to be changed!), and Sibmah. These towns, which they rebuilt, they called by their old names. 39 The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, invaded Gilead and captured it, driving out the Amorites who were there.40 (Moses gave Gilead to Machir, son of Manasseh, and he settled there.)41 Jair, a Manassehite clan, campaigned against the tent villages, captured them and called them Havvoth-jair.42 Nobah also campaigned against Kenath, captured it with its dependencies and called it Nobah after his own name.


The Stages of Israel's Journey from Egypt

33 1 The following are the stages by which the Israelites journeyed up by companies from the land of Egypt under the guidance of Moses and Aaron. 2 By the LORD'S command Moses recorded the starting places of the various stages. The starting places of the successive stages were:3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the Passover morrow the Israelites went forth in triumph, in view of all Egypt, 4 While the Egyptians buried their first-born all of whom the LORD had struck down; on their gods, too, the LORD executed judgments.5 Setting out from Rameses, the Israelites camped at Succoth.6 Setting out from Succoth, they camped at Etham near the edge of the desert.7 Setting out from Etham, they turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped opposite Migdol.8 Setting out from Pi-hahiroth, they crossed over through the sea into the desert, and after a three days' journey in the desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.9 Setting out from Marah, they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.10 Setting out from Elim, they camped beside the Red Sea.11 Setting out from the Red Sea, they camped in the desert of Sin.12 Setting out from the desert of Sin, they camped at Dophkah.13 Setting out from Dophkah, they camped at Alush.14 Setting out from Alush, they camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.15 Setting out from Rephidim, they camped in the desert of Sinai.16 Setting out from the desert of Sinai, they camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.17 Setting out from Kibroth-hattaavah, they camped at Hazeroth.18 Setting out from Hazeroth, they camped at Rithmah.19 Setting out from Rithmah, they camped at Rimmon-perez.20 Setting out from Rimmon-perez, they camped at Libnah.21 Setting out from Libnah, they camped at Rissah.22 Setting out from Rissah, they camped at Kehelathah.23 Setting out from Kehelathah, they camped at Mount Shepher.24 Setting out from Mount Shepher, they camped at Haradah.25 Setting out from Haradah, they camped at Makheloth.26 Setting out from Makheloth, they camped at Tahath.27 Setting out from Tahath, they camped at Terah.28 Setting out from Terah, they camped at Mithkah.29 Setting out from Mithkah, they camped at Hashmonah.30 Setting out from Hashmonah,-They camped at Moseroth. 31 Setting out from Moseroth, they camped at Bene-jaakan.32 Setting out from Bene-jaakan, they camped at Mount Gidgad.33 Setting out from Mount Gidgad, they camped at Jotbathah.34 Setting out from Jotbathah, they camped at Abronah.35 Setting out from Abronah, they camped at Ezion-geber.36 Setting out from Ezion-geber,-They camped in the desert of Zin, at Kadesh.37 Setting out from Kadesh, they camped at Mount Hor on the border of the land of Edom.38 (Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the LORD'S command, and there he died in the fortieth year from the departure of the Israelites from the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.40 Now, when the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.... ) 41 Setting out from Mount Hor,-They camped at Zalmonah. 42 Setting out from Zalmonah, they camped at Punon.43 Setting out from Punon, they camped at Oboth.44 Setting out from Oboth, they camped at Iye-abarim on the border of Moab.45 Setting out from Iye-abarim, they camped at Dibon-gad.46 Setting out from Dibon-gad, they camped at Almon-diblathaim.47 Setting out from Almon-diblathaim, they camped in the Abarim Mountains opposite Nebo.48 Setting out from the Abarim Mountains, they camped on the plains of Moab along the Jericho stretch of the Jordan.49 Their camp along the Jordan on the plains of Moab extended from Beth-jeshimoth to Abelshittim.


Directions for the Conquest of Canaan

50 The LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab beside the Jericho stretch of the Jordan and said to him:51 "Tell the Israelites: When you go across the Jordan into the land of Canaan,52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you; destroy all their stone figures and molten images, and demolish all their high places.53 "You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land as your property.54 You shall apportion the land among yourselves by lot, clan by clan, assigning a large heritage to a large group and a small heritage to a small group. Wherever anyone's lot falls, there shall his property be within the heritage of his ancestral tribe.55 "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those whom you allow to remain will become as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the country where you live,56 and I will treat you as I had intended to treat them."


The Boundaries of the Land

34 1 The LORD said to Moses,2 "Give the Israelites this order: When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the territory that shall fall to you as your heritage-- the land of Canaan with its boundaries:3 "Your southern boundary shall be at the desert of Zin along the border of Edom; on the east it shall begin at the end of the Salt Sea,4 and turning south of the Akrabbim Pass, it shall cross Zin, and extend south of Kadesh-barnea to Hazar-addar; thence it shall cross to Azmon,5 and turning from Azmon to the Wadi of Egypt, shall terminate at the Sea.6 "For your western boundary you shall have the Great Sea with its coast; this shall be your western boundary. 7 "The following shall be your boundary on the north: from the Great Sea you shall draw a line to Mount Hor, 8 and shall continue it from Mount Hor to Labo in the land of Hamath, with the boundary extending through Zedad.9 Thence the boundary shall reach to Ziphron and terminate at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern boundary.10 "For your eastern boundary you shall draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham.11 From Shepham the boundary shall go down to Ar-Baal, east of Ain, and descending further, shall strike the ridge on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth;12 thence the boundary shall continue along the Jordan and terminate with the Salt Sea. "This is the land that shall be yours, with the boundaries that surround it."13 Moses also gave this order to the Israelites: "This is the land, to be apportioned among you by lot, which the LORD has commanded to be given to the nine and one half tribes.14 For all the ancestral houses of the tribe of Reuben, and the ancestral houses of the tribe of Gad, as well as half of the tribe of Manasseh, have already received their heritage;15 these two and one half tribes have received their heritage on the eastern side of the Jericho stretch of the Jordan, toward the sunrise."


Tribal Leaders

16 The LORD said to Moses,17 "These are the names of the men who shall apportion the land among you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua, son of Nun,18 and one prince from each of the tribes whom you shall designate for this task.19 These shall be as follows: from the tribe of Judah: Caleb, son of Jephunneh,20 from the tribe of Simeon: Samuel, son of Ammihud;21 from the tribe of Benjamin: Elidad, son of Chislon;22 from the tribe of Dan: Bukki, son of Jogli;23 from the tribe of Manasseh: Hanniel, son of Ephod; and24 from the tribe of Ephraim: Kemuel, son of Shiphtan, for the descendants of Joseph;25 from the tribe of Zebulun: Elizaphan, son of Parnach;26 from the tribe of Issachar: Paltiel, son of Azzan;27 from the tribe of Asher: Ahihud, son of Shelomi;28 from the tribe of Naphtali: Pedahel, son of Ammihud."29 These are they whom the LORD commanded to assign the Israelites their heritage in the land of Canaan.


Cities for the Levites

35 1 The LORD gave these instructions to Moses on the plains of Moab beside the Jericho stretch of the Jordan:2 "Tell the Israelites that out of their hereditary property they shall give the Levites cities for homes, as well as pasture lands around the cities.3 The cities shall serve them to dwell in, and the pasture lands shall serve their herds and flocks and other animals.4 The pasture lands of the cities to be assigned the Levites shall extend a thousand cubits from the city walls in each direction.5 Thus you shall measure out two thousand cubits outside the city along each side-east, south, west and north-with the city lying in the center. This shall serve them as the pasture lands of their cities.6 "Now these are the cities you shall give to the Levites: the six cities of asylum which you must establish as places where a homicide can take refuge, and in addition forty-two other cities-- 7 a total of forty-eight cities with their pasture lands to be assigned the Levites.8 In assigning the cities from the property of the Israelites, take more from a larger group and fewer from a smaller one, so that each group will cede cities to the Levites in proportion to its own heritage."


Cities of Refuge

9 The LORD said to Moses,10 "Tell the Israelites: When you go across the Jordan into the land of Canaan,11 select for yourselves cities to serve as cities of asylum, where a homicide who has killed someone unintentionally may take refuge.12 These cities shall serve you as places of asylum from the avenger of blood, so that a homicide shall not be put to death unless he is first tried before the community. 13 Six cities of asylum shall you assign:14 three beyond the Jordan, and three in the land of Canaan.15 These six cities of asylum shall serve not only the Israelites but all the resident or transient aliens among them, so that anyone who has killed another unintentionally may take refuge there.


Concerning Murder and Blood Revenge

16 "If a man strikes another with an iron instrument and causes his death, he is a murderer and shall be put to death. 17 If a man strikes another with a death-dealing stone in his hand and causes his death, he is a murderer and shall be put to death.18 If a man strikes another with a death-dealing club in his hand and causes his death, he is a murderer and shall be put to death.19 The avenger of blood may execute the murderer, putting him to death on sight.20 "If a man pushes another out of hatred, or after lying in wait for him throws something at him, and causes his death,21 or if he strikes another out of enmity and causes his death, he shall be put to death as a murderer. The avenger of blood may execute the murderer on sight.22 "However, if a man pushes another accidentally and not out of enmity, or if without lying in wait for him he throws some object at him,23 or without seeing him throws a death-dealing stone which strikes him and causes his death, although he was not his enemy nor seeking to harm him:24 then the community, deciding the case between the slayer and the avenger of blood in accordance with these norms,25 shall free the homicide from the avenger of blood and shall remand him to the city of asylum where he took refuge; and he shall stay there until the death of the high priest who has been anointed with sacred oil.26 If the homicide of his own accord leaves the bounds of the city of asylum where he has taken refuge,27 and the avenger of blood finds him beyond these bounds and kills him, the avenger incurs no bloodguilt;28 the homicide was bound to stay in his city of asylum until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may the homicide return to his own district.29 "These shall be norms for you and all your descendants, wherever you live, for rendering judgment.30 "Whenever someone kills another, the evidence of witnesses is required for the execution of the murderer. The evidence of a single witness is not sufficient for putting a person to death.31 "You shall not accept indemnity in place of the life of a murderer who deserves the death penalty; he must be put to death.32 Nor shall you accept indemnity to allow a refugee to leave his city of asylum and again dwell elsewhere in the land before the death of the high priest.33 You shall not desecrate the land where you live. Since bloodshed desecrates the land, the land can have no atonement for the blood shed on it except through the blood of him who shed it.34 Do not defile the land in which you live and in the midst of which I dwell; for I am the LORD who dwells in the midst of the Israelites."


Marriage of Female Heirs

36 1 The heads of the ancestral houses in the clan of descendants of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh-one of the Josephite clans-came up and laid this plea before Moses and the priest Eleazar and before the princes who were the heads of the ancestral houses of the other Israelites.
2
They said: "The LORD commanded you, my lord, to apportion the land by lot among the Israelites; and you, my lord, were also commanded by the LORD to give the heritage of our kinsman Zelophehad to his daughters.
3
But if they marry into one of the other Israelite tribes, their heritage will be withdrawn from our ancestral heritage and will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry; thus the heritage that fell to us by lot will be diminished.
4
When the Israelites celebrate the jubilee year, the heritage of these women will be permanently added to that of the tribe into which they marry and will be withdrawn from that of our ancestral tribe."
5
So Moses gave this regulation to the Israelites according to the instructions of the LORD: "The tribe of the Josephites are right in what they say.
6
This is what the LORD commands with regard to the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, provided they marry into a clan of their ancestral tribe,
7
so that no heritage of the Israelites will pass from one tribe to another, but all the Israelites will retain their own ancestral heritage.
8
Therefore, every daughter who inherits property in any of the Israelite tribes shall marry someone belonging to a clan of her own ancestral tribe, in order that all the Israelites may remain in possession of their own ancestral heritage.
9
Thus, no heritage can pass from one tribe to another, but all the Israelite tribes will retain their own ancestral heritage."
10
The daughters of Zelophehad obeyed the command which the LORD had given to Moses.
11
Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah, Zelophehad's daughters, married relatives on their father's side
12
within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph; hence their heritage remained in the tribe of their father's clan.
13
These are the commandments and decisions which the LORD prescribed for the Israelites through Moses, on the plains of Moab beside the Jericho stretch of the Jordan.


Nombres (NAB) 32